Nutrition knowledge of adolescent females with and without anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a syndrome characterized by the patient's pursuit of extreme thinness which is often life-threatening. In recent years, the incidence of anorexia nervosa has risen dramatically in the Western nations. Although nutrition education is included in some treatment regimens for the disorder, no current research has dealt with the actual level of nutrition knowledge of this population or investigated what areas of nutrition education that may require particular attention. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of nutrition knowledge of these patients as compared to non-anorexic adolescent females and to more specifically identify the areas of nutrition knowledge that may be deficient. A nutrition survey was distributed to approximately ninety high school students with twenty surveys randomly selected from those completed by the female respondents. Twenty surveys were also obtained from anorexia nervosa out-patients in the Los Angeles area. The findings of the study indicate that female anorexia nervosa patients have a lower level of nutrition knowledge than adolescent females without anorexia nervosa. It was apparent that both sample groups were susceptible to nutrition myths and fads. The responses from the anorexic sample group regarding a recommendation to lose weight rapidly was consistent with the attitudes and behavior common to the disorder. Both groups displayed only a fair• understanding of vitamins and general nutrition. In general, the study indicated that both sample groups displayed a need for additional nutrition education.